Blogger Corey Clark shares safety tips for taking your dog fishing

Fishing with your dog can be a "treat"

May 16, 2013

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Hello, once again, fellow outdoors enthusiasts. As some of you may already know one of my favorite things to do is be out on the water with my best buddy, Duke, my yellow lab. We spend a great deal of time on the hard and open water together and boy do we have a blast. But there are a few things to keep in mind as the weather warms up, and the sun beats down on us.

If you are like me, you love to take your dog along in the boat and allow them to enjoy a fun-filled day at your side. When I hook up the boat, chances are Duke has already jumped in the truck, and good luck getting him out till we hit the landing.
When this is the case I am always sure I have my 'doggy bag' with me. Itís very simple and can make your fishing trip go a whole lot smoother. The first thing I always make sure I have is a small bowl along with a quart zip lock bag full of food and a few treats. Dogs are just like you, they need a snack every once in a while.

I know a few people who take a small bag of jerky for their pet, but here is my theory. When Duke eats anything with some spices involved it doesnít take long before he needs a potty break. So keep that in mind. I doubt you want that mess in your boat.
The second thing I keep in my boat is an empty water bottle that I can fill up while out on the lake and keep him hydrated. We all know how the sun beats down on you out there, and fluids are important for dogs.
Speaking of the sun, lets not forget to have some area in the boat that our dogs can lay down and get some shade. Small umbrellas are cheap if your boat does not have a counsel for them to hide under.
Another thing to keep in mind is what type of boat do you have? Does it have carpet? How many of us have taken off our shoes on a hot day while fishing in a aluminum boat and couldnít step down due to how hot the surface gets. Can you imagine laying on that? A small towel or blanket would do the trick in this situation.

Now that youíre all set to head out on the water there is only one thing left to do. When you arrive at the landing allow your dog to take a quick potty break. The last thing anyone wants is a mess.
Along with that keep track of how long you have been out on the water. If itís been a few hours it wont take you long to run to a shoreline and let him have a break. Please keep these simple tips in mind next time you venture out with your dog at your side.
Best of luck to all of you this season and have fun out there.

Corey Clark is a life long resident of Wisconsin and avid outdoorsman. On the water or in the woods is where his passion lies.